Shovel Covers
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Modified M1905 Shovel cover
This early shovel carrier, manufactured by the Rock Island Arsenal in 1910 once had the M1905 swivel hanger rivited to the back. However the cover was modified for use with the 1910 equipments. A wire hook secured by a canvas tab was sewn onto the back of the cover. The M1905 and M1910 Shovels were carried in this carrier and attached under the doughboy's meatcan pouch on the haversack. The early shovel carriers had the leather straps and roller buckle with tongue. Later carriers used a canvas strap and buckle. When I aquired this carrier, it's leather parts were in very poor shape. I took the carrier to a local leather repair shop for restoration. The long strap is a period replacement strap, and the tab holding the buckle was made by the leather repair shop. The only leather piece I didn't have restored is the loop on the back of the carrier.
This carrier is marked to Company F, 342nd Infantry regiment, of the 86th Divsion ( National Army).
First pattern M1910 shovel cover
The 1st pattern shovel cover was similar in appearance to the M1905 cover but it lacked the three reinforcing rivets on the trim and also the leather loop to secure the leather strap was eliminated. This cover is dated 1911 and is the early "khaki" found on the early M1910 equipment made from 1910-1911. I have also seen a variation of the cover in a period photograph and that cover has a web strap rather than leather.
Note the early 1910-1912 thin belt hanger that passes through a brass tube secured by the webbing.
Second pattern M1910 shovel cover
This shovel carrier was manufactured by the Rock Island Arsenal, dated 1913. The original M1910 shovel carrier was simplified and the second pattern was created. A canvas strap replaced the leather strap, construction was simplified, and the roller buckle with tongue was replaced by a simple one piece brass buckle. This carrier is in the early light olive green shade and has pre 1915 brass hardware. Later shovel carriers were mass produced during 1917 and 1918, but in the common drab ( Khaki) shades. Later carriers also had a rounded brass tab on the end of the strap, rather than the pre 1915 square tab seen on this example.
Second pattern M1910 shovel cover
Another early 2nd pattern pattern shovel cover is shown, with stamped "US" and artillery unit stencil. Though the date on this cover unreadable my guess is that it dates to 1915. The square tab on the end of the strap is a replacement. This cover currently resides in a collection France.
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